The Devil's Alibi: A Dark Mafia Romance

by Jade Rowe

The night I lie for a mafia boss, I become his.

For three months, Ivan Petrov comes to my diner at 3am—black coffee, hundred-dollar tip, eyes like a storm. No small talk.

But when he stumbles in bleeding with sirens closing in, everything changes.

“Lock the door. Tell them I was here all night.”

The words bind us forever.

Now I’m his alibi, his obsession, the weakness he’ll burn city to protect.

“You lied for me,” he growls, trapping me against the counter. “That makes you mine.”

And every night, he proves it.


The Devil’s Alibi is a standalone, dual pov, forced proximity, dark mafia romance featuring a possessive, ‘touch her & I’ll unalive you’ type anti-hero and a feisty, smart heroine. Now OW drama, no cliffhanger, and a hard-won HEA.

298 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 17, 2025

Reviews

[Eva ˖๋ ࣭ ⭑ ㅤㅤㅤㅤ ‌ · Rating 3 out of 5]

2,5⭐️/5
Hmm it was underwhelming 😀

I had great hopes for this book, the premise seemed interesting. But then the writing came, and dare I say, ruined it all ? 🫩

I tried to get over it, but the writing felt really REALLY Wattpad-y. Which, wouldn’t be a problem if the story was on Wattpad and not a released book. I really stopped caring about this book when THIS came up:

She studies me for a moment.
"Isn't this the part where I'm supposed to be happy? Girl dates rich guy, gets taken shopping, lives the dream?"
"Most girls do."
"I'm not most girls."
"I know." I smile. "That's why I picked you."

The pick me vibes from that just gave me such an ick, I couldn’t take the story seriously anymore. Oh and when she referred to other women as plastic dolls, because those women care deeply about their appearance? Yeah it reeked of internalized misogyny, and “look at me I’m sooo special and not like other girls 🙂‍↕️” yikes

Character wise, true to the writing, they were sooo Wattpad-y, that it was painful to read about them.

First of the FMC: she could have had a good personality, temper, I don’t know something. But she was such a walking contradiction at the beginning of the book that it just angered me. And she lost all her fight so so fast it was disappointing. Plus the way her action kept contradicting her words, stay true to yourself for at least 2/3 chapters I don’t know!!! By the end of the book she was such a doormat that everything was chosen by the MMC for her. “ oh Ivan said that I should do that” “Ivan chose the color of my wedding dress for me” get a grip !! Grow a backbone !! Just something please !!!

The MMC felt as Wattpad-y as the FMC, but at least seemed to have a semblance of personality. Unfortunately the way he was written felt really cliché. I could have been obsessed if I were still in high school, but in an adult oriented book ? Yeah, no.

I appreciated the fact that the bratva’s problems were involved in the story as a whole, and not as an afterthought.

Their love story was wayyy too fast paced, I love slow burn romance. BUT I can love a fast paced romance IF it’s written well, which wasn’t what occurred here.

Not an awful reading experience but definitely not a pleasant one.

[Emilia 🌻 ♡ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I expect these books to be unrealistic okay but this one was just so unrealistic to me for some reason. Like everything he did or said I just couldn’t believe

[Dee]

You might want to make sure to double check that you are buckled up, dangerous men, alpha’s personified, possessive, oh, gorgeous, brooding all the makings of a story consisting with three D’s (dark, delicious, and dirty) 😊. There will be suspense, betrayal, death, darkness, secrets reveled, violence, hope, forgiveness, and maybe even love along the way. Ivan sexy as all get out mafia boss a man you don’t want to be tangled up with dangerous, ruthless on a good day, deadly every day, every night the same routine black coffee at the same diner and served by the same waitress someone who sees more than his title, the danger that wears like a coat but the man even if it is just for a few moments. Lila works in a diner where she has seen some of every one come through the diner especially at the hours she works 3am in the morning but none as interesting as the dangerous mafia boss that comes for the usual cup of black coffee light conversation and then leaves every single night for months until that changes he comes in hurt, covered in blood demanding she lock the doors with the police hot on his heels asking she cover for him. Lila isn’t sure what to do but she knows she isn’t going to turn him in, so she locks the door and agrees he was there with her all night giving him an alibi thus sealing her fate so to speak or in his eyesight giving herself protection because she now belongs to him. The magnetic pull was already there now it is stronger but is it enough will she agree considering his lifestyle, can she show her she always belonged to him, he can protect her, will her alibi keep him off the radar of the officers, and will they find their own happiness somewhere along the way?

[Hope · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a ride. I absolutely loved this book. Lila and Ivan were hilarious. Their banter, the sexual tension, the drawings, his devotion. Wowwwaaahhhh.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

The FMC was so annoying until about the 75% mark that I almost DNF’ed… but it the ending saved it from being a total loss.

[Nour Hane · Rating 3 out of 5]

2,5⭐

I am Ivan Petrov, Pakhan of the Chicago Bratva and son of Viktor Petrov. I've killed seventeen men with my own hands.”

حسيت نفسي رجعت ل عام 2015... هاي انا ايفان و قتلت 17 رجل بأيدي هخخخ شو كرينج 😃

You don't know what I crave."
"Don't I?" He stands and moves behind me. His presence sends goosebumps across my skin. "You crave danger wrapped in safety. Violence controlled. Someone who can hurt you but chooses not to. Someone who sees how dark you are inside and wants you anyway."
His breath is hot against my ear, overriding every instinct to run as he leans in, "Someone exactly like me."

ياربي إنقرررضو سيناريو ذا مستهلك زي علكة لدرجة صار ما يجذب ...
المهم بطلة على اساس تقرا روايات و تتخيل رجال خطيرين و مهووسة ب بطل وترسمه بأوضاع جنسية وهو لقى دفتر رسم ذا و نشبلها اغراء و حركات 🥱
وهو باخان البراتفا بس حسيته هاوي لا هو قوي ولا كريزما ماعنده حظور
والله يعني قصة عادية جداا مدري اصلا ليش قراتها اغرتني نبذة فكرتها شي واو لكن لا... أو أنا مستويا فوق صارو قصص زي كذا ما تشدني.. تناسب واحد دخل جديد على دارك كانت خفيفة مافي استفزاز و ذل و اهانات لكن حسيت قصة مملة مافي شي جديد او مختلف تقريبا اتوقع شو حيصير قبل ما يصير احداث مش قوية لا في عمق ولا هدف ماشيين وخلاص + مكررة قريت 77 الف قصة زي كذا و اسلوب كاتبه اقل من ضعيف وما يشد محتاجه تشتغل على نفسها او تكتب في واتباد أحسن 🏃‍♀️

[Rebekah_read_it · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the premise for the book, but the FMC started to get on my nerves early on.
Described as a feisty, smart heroine. Was the smart heroine in the room with us?
The whiny pick me girl sure is. FMC alternates between being really into it her very own Mafia Boss / running away (please chase me Mr Mafia man) /Maybe I'm not good enough for him? / Yes tell me what to do/wear. Honeslty i was kind of hoping someone would beat some sense into her. But no, somehow even when falling into the clutches of evil. Was someone getting paid a bonus for every time the word Pakhan appeared in print?

[Ashley M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

OMG this book!!! 10/10
Ivan and Lila's banter was chef's kiss!!!
I love his obsession with her, his steps with her, the drawings, him reading her books to her, ALL OF TIME!!!!
I love mafia romances any way but this one had me falling from chapter 1. I love the extent Ivan will go to for Lila.
I love the HEA, just everything!

[Johanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a ride, what a read! The ossessive mafia man and the woman who lies to alibi him.

The world building was solidly drawn. The plot was intriguing and well paced. The characters drove the storyline and they were very compelling and complex and complicated and perfectly steamy together. Thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend.

Grab a copy, kick back and enjoy!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Merry Jelks-Emmanuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This exhilarating story draws you into Ivan and Lila's banter and antics right from the beginning. It is intense and thrilling and their connection is off the chains sizzling and had me cheering them on to getting their happiness.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Athena, the goddess of books · Rating 3 out of 5]

The readers who enjoy unapologetically dark mafia stories will likely find a lot to love here, but for me, while it was engaging and well-executed in parts, it didn’t linger emotionally the way I wanted it to.

Solid, dark at times and overall a good story, but it just was not a standout read for me.

[Jenni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ivan has a 3am routine that brings him to the diner Lila works at, watching her, he becomes more obsesed and when he rushes in covered in blood and cops on his heels she provides him an alibi one that seals her fate as his. Well written engaging steamy desires drama action and more.

[Dani · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF - unfortunately you lost me when the MMC kept referencing how she likes to read mafia romance books. It made me cringe and I didn’t like it. Plus it’s been really boring so far and I just didn’t care anymore.

[Becky Platt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

Very good. It would make excellent series. But it's a great standalone. I want to know more about misha and pytor

[Cathy Moir-Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A decadently dark and delicious storyline that takes our main characters from two improbable strangers to two lovers forged in fire. Damn fine read !!!.